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The Devils showed something to themselves last night. Overcoming their franchise goaltender’s flubs may mean more than the winning streak it extended.

Spotting the red-hot Stars two first-period stinkers by Martin Brodeur, the Devils did not fold. Instead, they chipped their way back to their fifth straight victory, a 4-2 triumph in Newark last night following their 4-0 road trip.

“When somebody’s slacking, somebody else has to pick up the part,” Brodeur said. “These guys did a great job getting those goals back.

“The attitude after the first period today, compared to game three or four of the season, was a lot different.”

The difference was formed in this season’s first winning streak of more than two games, now a five-game run that matches the best they managed last season, when they won their seventh Atlantic Division title.

“That’s a good sign,” John Madden said, “but we’re more concerned with what we’re doing now, rather than where this might take us.”

It squared their season at 12-10-2, 12 victories, 12 losses, and snapped a two-game home losing skid. They halted the Stars’ six-game winning streak one short of the 39-year franchise record.

The Devils returned home after sweeping a road trip, beating the Flyers, Penguins, Thrashers and Lightning. The homecoming, however, was dampened quickly by Stu Barnes’ short-hander 10:42 into play.

Breaking right wing past Jamie Langenbrunner, Barnes shot from the bottom of the right circle, between Brodeur’s pads.

Jussi Jokinen quickly doubled the Stars’ lead with another shot Brodeur should have stopped. This clinker came on a wrist shot from the left circle that went under Brodeur’s glove at 13:40.

Scoring for the second straight game, David Clarkson started the Devils back at 8:52 of the second, coming from behind the net for a left post wrap off the left skate of goalie Marty Turco.

“Our leaders stepped up and talked it up, saying that this game isn’t over yet,” Clarkson said of the first-intermission dialogue.

Brian Gionta erased the deficit with his third in two games with 1:12 left in the second.

Dainius Zubrus put the Devils in front with 9:03 left in regulation with his fifth, converting Langenbrunner’s 2-on-1 feed into the left slot.

Zach Parise sealed victory into an empty net with 16.7 seconds left.

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The euphoria was tempered by the injury Jay Pandolfo suffered in the third, slamming into the end boards and lurching off after hitting the post on a left-wing shot. Pandolfo’s leg seemed to stick awkwardly on the ice as he shot, but coach Brent Sutter said his injury was the result of hitting the boards.